Hello Thursday morning and Hello December. RIP Christine McVie.

PA Weather
Westmont | Becoming Sunny, Windy, 34
Danville | Mostly Sunny, Breezy, 41
Stroudsburg | Sunny, Breezy, 42

PA Sports
76ers (12-10) | Cleveland, L 113-85 | FRI vs. Memphis
Penguins (11-8-4) | THU vs. Vegas
Flyers (8-10-5) | THU vs. Tampa Bay

Visit us online at PoliticsPA.com
Are you getting this newsletter forwarded to you? Sign up for free and get your own subscription emailed to you every weekday morning.

Top Story

1. PA Senate Formally Accepts Articles Of Impeachment Against Krasner

The Pennsylvania Senate voted to formally accept the articles of impeachment that were filed by the State House against Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner on Wednesday, setting the stage for a mid-January trial.

It is the first time since 1994 that the chamber has moved on impeaching an elected official. Twenty-eight years ago, the Senate impeached State Supreme Court Justice Rolf Larsen, who was convicted by a state court of illegally conspiring to obtain prescription drugs. (PoliticsPA)

Related

PA Senate To Put Progressive Prosecutor On Trial. “The Pennsylvania state Senate on Wednesday began what could be a long and partisan process of considering whether to force Philadelphia’s Democratic district attorney, Larry Krasner, from office.” (Associated Press)

The PA Senate Formally Accepted Articles Of Impeachment Against Philly DA Larry Krasner. “The Pennsylvania Senate on Wednesday voted to formally accept the articles of impeachment filed by the state House against Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner, setting the stage for a January trial on whether to remove the progressive prosecutor from office.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Elections

2. Special Election To Replace DeLuca Tentatively Scheduled For February 7

“A special election to fill the vacancy in House District 32, created by the passing of Rep.-Elect Anthony DeLuca (D-Allegheny), has been set by Speaker of the House Bryan Cutler (R-Lancaster) for February 7, 2023.

It is the first of three special elections to occur in the county in the first five months of 2023, as two other Democratic representatives are expected to resign to take higher office.” (PoliticsPA)

Related

GOP, Democrats Argue Over Date For Special Election To Replace Late PA Rep. Tony DeLuca. “About this much can be said for certain: A special election to fill the 32nd state House seat long held by the late Anthony DeLuca, who died shortly before the November election, will be held early next year.” (WESA)

PA House, Democrats End Legislative Session With Spat Over Special Election. “Voters will choose a replacement for the late state Rep. Anthony DeLuca in a special election Feb. 7, House Speaker Bryan Cutler announced Wednesday. But that decision could be changed Thursday.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Setting A Special Election Date To Fill Vacancy Sets Off Power Struggle In PA House. “In what may be an indication of the partisan wrangling that Pennsylvanians can look forward to in the next legislative session, the leaders of the Republican and Democratic caucuses in the state House on Wednesday couldn’t even decide who has the authority to set a special election date.” (PennLive)

• Special Election Scheduled For Late PA Rep’s Seat. (Associated Press)
• Supreme Court Precedent Suggests McClinton May Have Power To Set Date. (CapitolWire.com)

Harrisburg

3. Second Superior Court Judge Announces Run For PA Supreme Court

“Judge Deborah Kunselman, a Beaver County Democrat, said Wednesday that she will seek the seat formerly held by Justice Max Baer, who died in September.

Kunselman joins Montgomery County Court President Judge Carolyn Carluccio, a Republican, and fellow Democratic Superior Court Judge Daniel McCaffery, of Philadelphia, in the race.” (PennLive)

Related

Shapiro-Davis Announce Inaugural Committee. “Governor-Elect Josh Shapiro and Lieutenant Governor-Elect Austin Davis announced the members of their Inaugural Committee to help plan what they describe as a “dynamic, interactive inauguration.”” (PoliticsPA)

Rendell Fundraiser, Casey Campaign Manager Among Leaders Of Shapiro’s Inaugural Committee. “A prominent Democratic fundraiser, a former campaign manager for U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, and a Philadelphia securities lawyer are among the co-chairs of Gov.-elect Josh Shapiro’s inaugural committee.” (Pennsylvania Capital-Star)

Lehigh Valley Native To Become Chief Of Staff For Shapiro. “When Dana Fritz starts her new job next month in Harrisburg, she’ll hold her Lehigh Valley roots near and dear.” (Morning Call)

State Rep Announces Candidacy To Fill Impending PA Senate Vacancy. “Rep. Lynda Schlegel Culver, 53, is the first candidate to step forward to seek the seat being vacated by Sen. John Gordner, who is resigning at the end of day Wednesday to become counsel to interim Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward, R-Westmoreland County.” (PennLive)

Schlegel-Culver Launches State Senate Campaign. “Although confident, state Rep. Lynda Schlegel-Culver, R-108, is taking nothing for granted in her bid to replace John Gordner in holding the seat representing Pennsylvania’s 27th Senatorial District.” (News-Item)

Redistricting Changes State Senate Landscape For Some Area Residents. “A number of residents in the Tri-County area will be represented by a new state senator beginning today, Dec. 1, as part of Pennsylvania’s redistricting process.” (Dubois Courier-Express)

Around The Commonwealth

Cartwright Running For Leadership Post. The Democratic Caucus leadership voted to create a Battleground Leadership Representative position to strengthen its competitiveness and best position Democrats to win in the toughest races across the country. PA’s Matt Cartwright is expected to challenge for the post against Virginia’s Abigail Spanberger. (POLITICO)

Dean Comes Up Short In Quest For Dem Leadership Role. “Rep. Ted Lieu won a four-way contest Wednesday to be the next House Democratic Caucus vice chair, replacing fellow Californian Pete Aguilar, who was elected to serve as caucus chair. Lieu beat Reps. Debbie Dingell of Michigan, Joyce Beatty of Ohio and Madeleine Dean of Pennsylvania. (Roll Call)

Helen Gym Makes It Official And Launches A Run For Philadelphia Mayor. “Former City Councilmember Helen Gym announced Wednesday that she will run for Philadelphia mayor on a pledge to address the city’s alarmingly high rate of gun violence, saying, “Everything is at stake right now.”” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

• What To Know About Helen Gym, One Of Philly’s Most Prominent Progressive Voices. (Billy Penn)

PA Broadband Authority Presents Plan To Improve High-Speed Internet Access, Infrastructure. “The Wolf administration announced this week that it is moving forward with a plan to address lagging access to broadband internet connectivity across Pennsylvania.” (Pennsylvania Capital-Star)

Lackawanna County Won’t Raise Property Taxes, But Future Finances Look Troublesome. “Lackawanna County’s 2023 budget contains no property tax hike, but a related memo warns of potential future financial trouble” (Times-Tribune)

New South Whitehall Commissioner Is A 20-Year-Old College Student. “South Whitehall Township will soon have a new commissioner, and he may be the youngest in the township’s history.” (Lehigh Valley News)

Patriot Polling, The Brainchild Of Teenagers, Is Making Its Mark On The Political Surveying Landscape. “Over the summer, as two teenagers from the Philadelphia suburbs joked about the inaccuracy of some political polls, they speculated they could do the job just as well.” (City & State)

Opinion

• Think PA Politics Settles Down After Relatively Calm Midterms? Ha! (John Baer, PennLive)
• There’s Nothing ‘Free’ About PA’s Freedom Caucus. (Lloyd E. Sheaffer, Pennsylvania Capital-Star)
• Opening Day In The PA House Of Representatives Will Be Packed With Uncertainty. (Bob O’Donnell, Broad + Liberty)
• GOP State Senate Will Continue To Lead In PA. (Michael Straw, Broad + Liberty)
• Singularly Unproductive Legislative Session Ends In Harrisburg. (Carol Kuniholm, Bucks County Courier Times)
• State College Should Become A 4-Day Workweek Test Lab. (Brad Groznik, StateCollege.com)
• GOP Making Gains Among Black Youth. (Star Parker, New Castle News)

1 Thing

River Of The Year

You can help choose the Pennsylvania “River Of The Year.”

• Conestoga River
• Perkiomen Creek
• Schuylkill River
• Susquehanna River North Branch

“The River of the Year Award has been given annually since 1983 by the Pennsylvania Organization for Watersheds and Rivers, with support from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

The winner will be decided by members of the public through an online vote that is open now and ends Jan. 18 at 5 p.m. Votes can be cast at pawatersheds.org/vote-for-a-2023-river-of-the-year/. The organization behind the nomination of the winning river will receive a $10,000 grant to promote their river through events like an overnight sojourn kayak trip.” (LNP | Lancaster Online)